Porcelain Statues
Antiques – What Does Soft Paste Porcelain Mean?
Every niche subject has its specific, descriptive words, its recognised terminology. These are words of international understanding, conveying a clear picture of the object being described.
In the world of antiques this is extremely important, particularly when the object is not able to be seen and handled by the person receiving the descriptive information.
Antiques are a vast subject and each category under the title of “antiques” has its own specific terminology. Key descriptive terms are used for antique categories such as silver, furniture, ceramics, glass, pictures, textiles, jewellery etc.
Within my subject of antique ceramics, porcelain and pottery, I have noticed a consistent confusion over a particular group of ceramic terms. These include the terms, “soft paste” and “hard paste” porcelain.
When reading through articles , or on line offers of antique porcelain, I frequently see the term “soft ” paste used, this is apart from the fact that the piece being described is well into the 19th century.
Soft paste porcelain is basically an 18th century product that was certainly not manufactured in the 19th century, except by a few makers in the early years of the 19th.
The term “soft paste” is sometimes thought to mean that soft paste porcelain is “softer” than hard paste porcelain, (also known as, true porcelain), however, both of these terms actually refer to the kiln temperature, not the porcelain itself.
It is actually the temperature that the porcelain is fired at; soft paste referring to a “soft fire”, which is usually about 1200°C. Soft paste is also known as “artificial porcelain”, or, “pate tendre”, when referring to French porcelain.
By contrast, hard paste porcelain is fired with a hard fire, usually about 1450°C.
Hard paste, or, true porcelain, derives its name from Chinese porcelain, first produced in that country over 2000 years ago.
True or hard paste porcelain is made by the combination of two integral ingredients, white China clay, or Kaolin and “petuntse” as known in English and derived from the Chinese, “Pai-tun-tzu”.
Technically, petuntse is a natural, fusible rock, which, when worked into a paste, combined with white China clay and fired with a “hard” fire, at 1450°C, results in hard paste porcelain.
Most European, soft paste porcelains belong to the 18th century and in general terms, most European hard paste porcelains belong in the 19th century. But, as always, there are a few exceptions.
Another term which seems to be confused is the descriptive word for a ceramic figure. When the human form is depicted in porcelain or pottery, it is described as a “figure”. I have recently seen such a description with a figure described as a statue. The term statue is reserved for a life sized figure as found in a large garden or park!
Alternately, when animals are described in porcelain and pottery, they are conventionally described as a “model” i.e., a model of a seated spaniel, a model of an alert greyhound etc
Every specialist subject from the vast range of antiques has its own recognised group of descriptive terms and using the correct terminology simply makes the information being offered clear and easily understood.
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Howard Pierce Pottery Ceramics Porcelain Figurines
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4″ Prarie Girl Porcelain Statue With One White Puppy $2.99 |
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5″ Prarie Girl Porcelain Statue With Two Black & White Kittens $2.99 |
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china tibet silver green porcelain engraving dragon monkey statue teapot $0.10 |
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2 vintage PORCELAIN hand painted QUAIL BIRD FIGURE STATUE $6.38 |
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STATUE OF LIBERTY PORCELAIN PLATE LIMOGES PATRIOTIC AMERICA LADY LIBERTY NIB $14.99 |
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STATUE OF LIBERTY PORCELAIN PLATE AMERICA PATRIOTIC USA LADY LIBERTY NEW!!! $14.99 |
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VINTAGE JAPANESE FIGURINE STATUE FROM 1950′S? MADE JAPAN MAN PORCELAIN CERAMIC $6.99 |
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WHITE PORCELAIN BENIHANA OF TOKYO STATUE $9.99 |
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VINTAGE BLACK PORCELAIN CAT STATUES 2 PLANTERS ALCO OF JAPAN EXCELLENT FREE SHIP $19.95 |
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Statue porcelain Art Deco Elephant with Tower figurine $150.00 |
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NEW Porcelain Elephant Gold Glaze Statue Figurine Gold Ivory $35.00 |
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LADY DEATH CLAYBURN MOORE STATUE HAND PAINTED PORCELAIN CHAOS LIMTED 7988/10000 $25.00 |
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♫ New NORTHERN ROSE Porcelain HIPPO w GUITAR Figurine Statue Figure ♫ $15.00 |
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♫ New NORTHERN ROSE Porcelain MUSICIAN PENGUIN w CLARINET Figurine Statue ♫ $14.00 |
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★ New NORTHERN ROSE Porcelain GIRAFFE w BABY Figurine Statue Figure ★ $20.00 |
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★ New NORTHERN ROSE Porcelain COTTONTAIL RABBIT Figurine Statue Figure ★ $13.50 |
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★ New NORTHERN ROSE Porcelain TAN CORGI Tan Dog Figurine Statue Figure NO TAIL ★ $14.00 |
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2 Vintage Asian Statue Figurines Very nice quality Porcelain Geisha Man @$3.99 $7.99 |
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Vintage Gold Pink Art Ceramic Porcelain Flamenco Dancers Statue Figurine Spanish $35.00 |
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Mickey Mouse and Donal Duck Schmid Porcelain statue $59.99 |
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Vintage porcelain statue Duck Japan $23.99 |
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ANTIQUE VICTORIAN PORCELAIN DOLL GIRL FIGURINE STATUE $9.99 |
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A Excellent Rare Chinese Cizhou Ware Kiln Porcelain Pillow in Tiger Shape $49.99 |
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Weddingstar The Love Pinch Bridal Couple Figurine, Caucasian Couple $21.29 Life is all about the little moments. Particularly those that no one knows about but you. This elegant couple takes romance – and fireworks – to a new level. Poised and elegant from the front, the back reveals a hidden little pinch – and a few extra “sparks”. Hand painted porcelain. The topper is one piece and measures 2 5/8″ X 2 5/8″ X 5 5/8″ H. Ships in 7-10 days…. |
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Weddingstar Playful Football Wedding Couple Figurine $23.99 If you and your beloved are Football fans, you ll love this cake topper. Beautifully styled with exquisite detailing, this playful couple is destined to score a “touch down” on your big day. Hand painted porcelain. Cake Topper measures 5.5 inches high with a base of 2.75 inches. Topper weights 5.6 ounces…. |
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Weddingstar A Romantic Dip Dancing Bride and Groom Couple Figurine for Cakes $31.00 This Couple is wrapped in a romantic embrace of dance. The Bride’s pretty pony tail, simple dress and rhinestone shoes give this Cake Topper a lovely modernized twist on a classic pose. Personalize the look by selecting a colored shoe for the Bride. Hand painted porcelain.MaterialsPorcelain… |
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The Alice in Wonderland & Caterpillar Smoking Houka Curved Lithophane David Delamare Art Nightlight $23.75 The most popular Lithophane product is the plug-in night light. First invented in France in 1827, a Lithophane is a porcelain engraving that virtually comes alive when illuminated from behind! The image is created by a panel of different thicknesses of translucent, kiln-fired porcelain. A breathtakingly detailed picture in warm sepia tones emerge when lit. The small shadow in our pictures is due t… |
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Happy Bonsai The Three Ladies Musicians $25.00 This beautiful figurine set features 3 Chinese lady musicians playing different traditional Chinese instruments…. |
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Willie Black Bear with Cub Free-Standing Toilet Paper Holder (Great Bathroom Decor) 12 $36.98 This standing bear toilet paper holder is an excellent choice for any bathroom at home or cabin. Bear with cub statue that is holding a role of toilet paper while looking down at the little nagging cub. Holds a full size roll of toilet paper. 12″ tall…. |
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